Writing Contests, Grants & Awards

The Writing Contests, Grants & Awards database includes details about the creative writing contests—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, and more—that we’ve published in Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it. Ours is the most trusted resource for legitimate writing contests available anywhere.

Awards are given annually for books published in the United States during the previous year to recognize "outstanding literary achievement from the entire spectrum of America's diverse literary community."...

Three prizes are given annually to writers residing in California for books of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction (including creative nonfiction) published during the previous year. Prizes are also given...

Publication by University of Iowa Press is given annually for an essay collection. Meghan Daum will judge. Submit a manuscript of 40,000 to 90,000 words with a $10 entry fee by December 10. Visit the...

A prize of $250, publication by Bull City Press, 10 author copies, and a fellowship to attend the Frost Place Poetry Seminar (valued at $1,550) is given annually for a poetry chapbook. The winner also...

A prize of $500 and letterpress publication by the Center for Book Arts is given annually for a poetry chapbook. The winner will also receive an additional $500 to give a reading at the Center for Book...